Amman - King Abdullah II of Jordan Monday urged US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice to ensure 'tangible progress' in the
stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace talks through 'coordination' with
all Arab and world parties, according to an official statement.
'The monarch underlined the importance of coordination between the
US administration and various Arab and international parties with a
view to achieving real and tangible progress' in negotiations between
Palestinian and Israeli sides,' the royal court said.
'The king also expressed support for the current US efforts aimed
at reviving the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians and
resolving the conflict between the two sides in accordance with the
two-state formula,' it added.
Rice arrived earlier Monday in Amman from Jerusalem in the course
of a regional tour and held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas, their second meeting in less than 24 hours.
Abbas urged Rice's good offices to convince Israel to expand its
talks with the Palestinians beyond 'security and humanitarian
issues', according to the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.
Responding to reporters' questions, Erakat quoted Rice as saying
that she 'did not want any changes in the Arab peace plan but rather
a mechanism for reinvigorating' the blueprint.
Abdullah urged the United States and Israel to 'adopt the Arab
peace initiative as a basis for future negotiations that lead to the
setting up of an independent Palestinian state, which lives in peace
with Israel'.
He urged Israel 'to deal positively with the Arab peace plan and
to avoid losing the historic opportunity it provides for fulfilling
the aspirations of all peoples in the region in peace security and
peace'.
'From her part, Rice reiterated President George Bush's commitment
to a solution based on the two-state vision as well as her keenness
on continuing the diplomatic drive with a view to ensuring a
resumption of the peace process,' the Jordanian statement said.
The situation in Iraq also cropped up during the monarch's talks
with the US Secretary of State.
'Jordan supports all efforts aimed at ensuring the success of
national reconciliation in Iraq,' the royal court statement quoted
the king as telling Rice.
'In order to succeed, the political process there should involve
all components of the Iraqi people,' he added.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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